As a squad, I have more quality. This is the best since I have been here

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger

It is a direct dig at the players who have jumped ship from Arsenal to join the City gravy train in recent years.

Samir Nasri, Gael Clichy, Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure all left Wenger in the lurch despite his huge influence on their careers.

Now, ahead of his side’s trip to the Etihad this afternoon, the Frenchman said: “As a squad, I have more quality. This is the best since I have been here.

“When you consider the players out injured like Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky and Emmanuel Frimpong, it only adds to what I believe. Yes, the best.”

That is some compliment coming from Wenger, whose 2003-4 team won the Premier League title unbeaten and had won the Double in 2002.

And Wenger cannot wait to dig his teeth into City. “At least we will know most of their team,” he said with a cheeky grin.

He also warned City that defending the title is harder than winning it. “When we won I looked around and noticed movement at Chelsea,” he said.

“They signed the likes of Drogba and Essien and I thought they could be contenders, which showed when they won it the next year.

“City got off to a good start last season and that helped because they almost lost it in the end. I believe they have also looked around and noticed again Chelsea becoming strong once more and we are looking comfortable. It won’t be easy for them, that’s for sure.

“This game, because of its history, means a lot to our fans. I want them to be over the moon, when they are not I am not happy. Money does a lot for clubs but you have to accept it because you can’t fight it.”

Wenger brought Santi Cazorla into his midfield because he wants to continue adding a Spanish flavour to his side.

“Santi is technically superb, linking the defence and attack like the way Fabregas did for us,” he said.

“With another country he would have won at least one hundred caps. I was interested in signing him from Malaga last season but they persuaded him to stay then they went into no-man’s land and I found it hard to find anyone who would talk. We got there in the end. He is a huge signing for us.

“The Spanish way of thinking and playing is what I am trying to achieve. English players like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jack Wilshere are performing that way already.

“I believe this is the way forward and I hope my other English players will follow.”

Wenger believes today’s battle will be won in midfield and relishes the clash between City’s Yaya Toure and Abou Diaby, one of the Premier League’s in-form players .

“When you consider Abou was out for a year and has returned in such style and quality you realise what a player he is, one of the finest in his position,” said Wenger.

“He is already a star for France. His return to play like this should be an inspiration to Wilshere, proving you can ­return and be a world-beater again.

“This game could give one side an ­advantage and build confidence for the rest of the season – but I have no doubt about the hunger of my side. It’s massive.”